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12:50 AM

US outlook remains 'highly uncertain': Fed's Powell

12:01 AM

The US Federal Reserve pledged to keep rates low until it has achieved its goal of maximum employment, which forecasts by the central bankers showed would not happen until at least 2024

10:55 PM

Committee formed to suggest reforms in criminal laws: MHA

A Committee has been constituted under the Chairpersonship of the Vice-Chancellor, National Law University, Delhi to suggest reforms in the criminal laws, Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs G Kishan Reddy informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

9:04 PM

Indian airlines seek $ 1.5 bn in interest-free credit line, says govt

Airlines in India are seeking at least $1.5 billion as an interest-free credit line from the government, Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said, as lockdowns and restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic hit demand for air travel.

 

The carriers in what was until recently the world’s fastest growing aviation market are also seeking to defer loan repayments by six months, without these borrowings getting classified as “non-performing,” Puri said in a written reply in Parliament. Local airlines have asked the government to include jet fuel in the South Asian nation’s goods and services tax, and abolish excise duty on aviation turbine fuel, the minister said. Read more

8:58 PM

TikTok-Oracle deal to result in separate US firm: Report

With details of TikTok-Oracle deal still scarce, a new Financial Times report suggests that the short video-sharing platform is likely to spin off into a separate US-headquartered company as per the arrangements. In this new corporate entity, Oracle will be a minority shareholder, said the report on Tuesday, citing people familiar with the matter.

 

However, what will be the size of Oracle's ownership is still not clear. But an important role the Cloud major will play is in ensuring that data of TikTok's users in the US are stored and processed within the boundaries of the country.

 

The Trump administration last month issued an executive order barring anyone from doing transactions with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance 45 days after the order was released.

8:41 PM

Delhi court stays order to unlock residential parts of Nizamuddin Markaz

A court here on Wednesday stayed an order directing Delhi Police to unlock the residential portion of the Nizamuddin Markaz, which was locked after a case was registered against several people attending a religious congregation in violation of COVID-19 guidelines in March.

 

Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Sandeep Yadav passed the direction on a plea by Delhi police, which approached the sessions court against an order passed by a magisterial court on September 11.

8:34 PM

LS passes Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill, more powers to RBI over UCBs

The passage of the bill to amend the Banking Regulations Act will enhance the Reserve Bank of India’s power to supervise co-operative banks to protect the interests of depositors and strengthen banking entities.

 

The government introduced the Bill in Lok Sabha replacing the ordinance, promulgated on June 26, 2020, in the current monsoon session. The Lower House of Parliament (Lok Sabha) passed the bill on Wednesday and it will become a law after the President signs it and it is notified.

 

The banking regulator has already started working on increasing the oversight of urban co-operative banks (UCBs). Read more

 

8:25 PM

Covid-19 forces early end to Telangana Assembly session

The Covid-19 pandemic forced an early end to the Telangana Assembly session as both the Houses were adjourned sine die on Wednesday, 12 days before the scheduled time.

 

Both the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council were originally scheduled to have the session till September 28 but a sudden spurt in Covid cases among the staff on duty is believed to have forced the presiding officers to cut short the session.

 

Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy and Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy adjourned the Houses sine die after completing the day's agenda.

 

The decision was taken after a member of Assembly and over 50 others including policemen and legislature staff on duty reportedly tested positive.

8:11 PM

No proposal for regulation of OTT services at present: Dhotre

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that there is no proposal at present regarding legislation for regulation of Over-The-Top (OTT) service providers.

 

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has given its recommendations on 'Regulatory Framework for OTT Communication Service', where it said no regulatory interventions are required in respect of issues related with privacy and security of OTT services at the moment, Minister of State for Communications and IT Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

 

The regulator further said it is not an opportune moment to recommend a comprehensive regulatory framework for various aspects of OTT services, beyond the laws and regulations prescribed presently, and that matter may be looked into afresh when more clarity emerges in international jurisdictions.

8:00 PM

Majority of people want personal lives, world to change significantly: WEF survey

Majority of people want the world to change significantly and become more sustainable and equitable, according to a global survey by the World Economic Forum (WEF).

 

The respondents were spread across 28 countries, including India, and nearly nine in ten said they were ready for their lives and the world to change.

 

Also, 86 per cent respondents want the world to become more sustainable and equitable, rather than going back to how it was before the COVID-19 crisis started.

 

Out of them, 87 per cent of the respondents totally agreed that they want "the world to change significantly and become more sustainable and equitable rather than returning to how it was before the COVID-19 crisis".

7:48 PM

Banking Regulation (Amendment) Bill does not regulate cooperative banks: FM

7:36 PM

814 hectares of rail land under encroachment across country: Railway Minister

The Railway Ministry on Wednesday informed Parliament that 814 hectares of the national transporter's land is under encroachment across its 17 zones. Replying to a query in Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in a written reply said most of the encroachments are near railway stations.

 

"Most of the encroachments on Railway land are in the approaches of stations in Metros and big cities in the form of slums around railway tracks. The State-wise details are not maintained by the Railways," he said, listing the zone-wise details of encroachments as on March 31 this year.

7:28 PM

Lockdown led to 42% dip in traffic revenue, refund of Rs 3,371 cr issued between Mar-Aug: Rlys

Hypertension most common comorbidity among Covid patients: AIIMS doctorOwing to discontinuance of passenger services due to the coronavirus-induced lockdown, traffic revenue by August end declined by 42 per cent as compared to last year with the railways refunding over Rs 3,371 crore for cancelled journeys between March-August, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

 

To a query on the effect of the lockdown on the finances of the Railways, minister Piyush Goyal informed the Lok Sabha that due to discontinuance of passenger services, up to the end of August, the number of originating passengers has been 1.27 per cent and freight loading has been 86.6 per cent of the corresponding period last year.

 

"Consequently, the traffic revenue of Railways to the end of August 2020, at Rs 41,844.31 crore has declined by 42.3 per cent over the corresponding period last year," he said in a written reply.

7:19 PM

Collected Rs 430 crore as fare from states for Shramik Special trains: Rail Min

An amount of Rs 433 crore has been collected as fare from state governments and their representatives for operating 4,621 Shramik Special trains since May 1, the Ministry of Railways informed Parliament on Wednesday. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said in all, 4,621 Shramik Special trains have been operated between May 1 and August 31 carrying 6.32 mn passengers to their home states.

 

Earlier, the Railways had maintained that while states paid only 15 percent of the cost of running these trains, 85 percent of the cost was being borne by the national transporter.

7:09 PM

TN govt firm on bilingual policy, will not go back on it: CM

The Tamil Nadu government was firm on following two-language policy--of Tamil and English-- in the state and will not go back on it, Chief Minister K Palaniswami said on Wednesday.

 

Responding to opposition DMK in the state Assembly on the New Education Policy (NEP), he said the government would take a stand on it based on the recommendations of the two expert committees constituted by the government to advise on the policy response on all thrust areas of the policy, subject to Tamil Nadu continuing with its two-language policy.

7:00 PM

Tata Projects Ltd wins bid to construct new parliament building: Officials

The Tata Projects Limited on Wednesday won the bid to construct a new parliament building at a cost of Rs 861.90 crore, officials said. The L&T Ltd had submitted a bid of Rs 865 crore, they said.

 

"The Tata Projects Limited has won the contract to build a new Parliament building," an official said.

 

The new Parliament building will be constructed close to the existing one under the Central Vista redevelopment project, and it is expected to be completed in 21 months.

6:52 PM

Rs 67,000 crore spent on Hyderabad's development in 6 yrs: KTR

The Telangana government has spent Rs 67,000 crore on development of Hyderabad during the last six years, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao said.

 

Rao told the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday that after formation of Telangana state in 2014, the government laid special emphasis on development of the state capital.

 

Considering the growing importance of Hyderabad and its crucial role in the state's economy, the government initiated a number of schemes and projects for upkeep of existing infrastructure and creating new infrastructure.

 

"A total of Rs 67,035 crore worth of capital expenditure has been incurred on various infrastructure projects in Hyderabad since the formation of the state till date including few works which would be completed in next four months," he said.

6:44 PM

Over 1.86 mn public grievances received in 2019: Govt

Over 1.86 mn public grievances were received during the last year and more than 16 lakh of them were redressed, the Lok Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

 

A total of 15,86,415 such grievances were received in 2018 as against 18,66,124 in 2017, according to the data shared by Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Jitendra Singh in a written reply.

 

Of these, 14,98,519 and 17,73,020 grievances were redressed in 2018 and 2017 respectively, he said.

 

In 2019, a total of 18,67,758 public grievances were received and 16,39,120 were redressed, the minister said.

6:35 PM

5G introduction depends on equipment, ecosystem, telcos' economic consideration: Govt

The government on Wednesday informed Parliament that introduction of 5G services in the country will depend on equipment, device ecosystem and economic considerations by telecom operators.

 

The government also said that state-owned BSNL and MTNL have not planned introducing 5G services yet on their networks.

 

Minister of State for Telecommunications Sanjay Dhotre, in a written reply to a question on the 5G rollout, said, "5G services depends on 5G equipment and device ecosystem, and economic considerations by the telecom service providers."

 

In response to a question on the warning over data theft and national security, Dhotre said the US has intimated about the use of 5G clean path to protect the data and networks of US diplomatic facilities.

6:23 PM

Govt removes export ban on PPE, masks, sanitizers

6:18 PM

IT Ministry has blocked 224 apps in interest of national security: Dhotre

The IT ministry has blocked 224 mobile apps in the interest of national security and sovereignty, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

 

"The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has blocked 224 mobile applications, including TikTok, Helo and WeChat under the provisions of section 69A of the Information Technology Act, 2000 in the interest of sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India and security of State," Minister of State for Electronics and IT Sanjay Dhotre said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.

 

He said these apps have been blocked on national security concerns and thus "linkage with any country may not be disclosed in public domain".

6:10 PM

PwC commits to net zero emissions by 2030 globally

Global consulting major PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) has made a worldwide science-based commitment to achieve net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, including supporting its clients to reduce their emissions.

 

PwC firms provide services to 85 per cent of the Global Fortune 500 companies and more than 100,000 entrepreneurial and private businesses.

 

PwC has committed to decarbonise its operations, including its travel footprint and neutralise its remaining climate impact by investing in carbon removal projects. It will also engage its suppliers to tackle their climate impact.

6:02 PM

Tax refunds worth over Rs 1.06 trn issued to 3.09 mn taxpayers till Sep 15: CBDT

5:53 PM

Govt to bring out strategy paper on boosting industrial growth: Goyal

The government is in the process of bringing out a strategy paper on boosting industrial growth which will be a road map for all businesses in the country, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

 

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is in the process of rationalising the existing central labour laws into four labour codes -- on wages; industrial relations; occupational safety, health and working conditions; and social security by simplifying, amalgamating and rationalising the relevant provisions of the existing central labour laws.

 

The Code on Wages has been approved and notified, he added.

 

"The government is in the process of bringing out a strategy paper on boosting industrial growth which will be a road map for all businesses in the country," he said.

5:47 PM

478.1 acres of land is required for phase-1 of Ayodhya airport: AAI to UP govt

Indian Army fully geared for full-fledged war in eastern Ladakh: Northern CommandThe Airports Authority of India (AAI) has told the UP government that it requires 478.1 acres land for the phase-1 development of the Ayodhya airport, said Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri on Wednesday.

 

"The state government of Uttar Pradesh has informed that they have earmarked Rs 525.92 crore for acquiring the land so far (for the airport)," Puri said in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha.

 

On the request of the UP government, a multi-disciplinary team of the AAI visited the existing Ayodhya airport in December last year to conduct a pre-feasibilty study to develop the airport further so that it can handle wide-bodied aircraft, Puri said.

5:43 PM

IS most active in southern states, Maharashtra, Bengal, Rajasthan, Bihar, UP, MP, J&K

5:39 PM

Indian Army fully geared for full-fledged war in eastern Ladakh: Northern Command

Asserting that it is fully prepared to fight a full-fledged war even in winters in eastern Ladakh, the Indian Army on Wednesday said if China created conditions for war, they will face a better trained, better prepared, fully rested and psychologically hardened Indian troops.

 

In a statement, it said compared to physically and psychologically battle-hardened Indian troops, Chinese troops mostly are from urban areas and not used to hardships or prolonged deployment under field conditions. Read more

5:33 PM

India's GDP to contract by 8.6% in FY21, fiscal stimulus needed: UBS Securities

Swiss brokerage UBS Securities said it forecasts a GDP contraction of 8.6 per cent in FY21 as against its earlier prediction of 5.8 per cent, citing factors including the modest government response to the crisis for its estimate.

 

It said the country's potential rate of growth has also come down to 5.75-6.25 per cent as per its estimate as against 7.1 per cent, driven by factors including the weak government response to arrest the growth slide.

 

Some improvement is being observed in the high frequency data, but much of it is pent-up demand and economic recovery will be gradual after the September quarter, its chief economist Tanvee Gupta Jain told reporters.

5:24 PM

Babri demolition verdict on Sept 30; Advani, Joshi asked to be in court

A special CBI court hearing the Babri mosque demolition case will pronounce its judgment on September 30. Judge SK Yadav has directed all accused to remain present in the court on the day of judgment.

 

Prominent among the 32 accused are former deputy prime minister L K Advani and BJP leaders M M Joshi, Kalyan Singh, Uma Bharti and Vinay Katiyar. CBI counsel Lalit Singh told PTI that arguments of the defence and prosecution concluded on September 1 and thereafter the special judge started writing the judgment.

5:15 PM

1,198 detained under NSA in 2017, 2018 in India, 635 released by review boards

As many as 1,198 people were detained by police under the stringent National Security Act (NSA) across the country in 2017 and 2018, of whom 563 are still under custody, Parliament was informed on Wednesday.

 

In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy also said according to the latest published report of 2018 of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Madhya Pradesh detained the highest number of people under the NSA in 2017 and 2018 among all the states, followed by Uttar Pradesh.

 

A total of 501 people were detained in different parts of the country under the stringent law in 2017, of whom 229 were released by the review boards and 272 are under custody, he said.